Beloved country music legend Dolly Parton passed away on Tuesday, August 25. Her family announced the tragic news with an emotional video shared via social media.
Shortly after news broke, fans and friends alike began flooding the internet with memories of the “I Will Always Love You” artist. And some of HGTV‘s finest are among those mourning the loss.
HGTV Mourns
Nate Berkus was one of the first to remember Dolly, pointing out her generosity and kindness in a moving tribute.
“Dolly Parton was my very first celebrity guest on The Nate Berkus Show. She had nothing to promote, no new book, no new product. We asked her to come and she drove to NYC to sit with me,” he shared alongside a clip from the September 2010 episode. “RIP beloved, legendary, charming, kind and funny friend. @dollyparton.”
Beloved hospitality icon Martha Stewart similarly shared a memory of her time with Dolly.
“Known as a country music legend and the undisputed ‘Queen of Country,’ Dolly Parton was a towering figure in American culture. Her extraordinary career spanned more than 60 years as a major recording artist, singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She sold more than 100 million records worldwide and wrote more than 3000 songs, captivating generations of fans with her distinct voice and authentic charm. We will all miss her dearly,” she shared. “In 2024, I had the chance to talk to Dolly and her sister, Rachel, on my podcast. Here’s a clip.”
In the clip, Dolly was complimenting Martha for her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover spread.
“I’m doing a Dallas Cowboy outfit and you’re on the cover of Swimsuit,” she gushed as she promoted her bestselling cookbook, “Good Lookin’ Cookin’: A Year of Meals—A Lifetime of Family, Friends, and Food.”
In addition to Martha and Nate, former “Fixer Upper” star Clint Harp mourned the “9 to 5” artist on the day she passed.
“Saying goodbye to Dolly is the last thing any of us wanted to do today,” he said in a video shared via Instagram. “But here we are. What a world. Of all the people that had to leave today, my goodness. Thank you, Dolly. Thank you for everything. Thank you for giving what is estimated to be over 300 million books away to kids.
He continued, “Her dad was not able to read and she made sure that hundreds of millions of other kids could. As we move forward, let’s keep looking for leaders like Dolly, who support reading, support books. Who support the marginalized…If you loved Dolly, that’s what she loved.”
Clint’s fellow “Fixer Upper” costar, Joanna Gaines, simply shared a black and white photo of Dolly to her Instagram Story.
“Fixer to Fabulous” star Jenny Marrs reshared a viral clip to her Instagram Story that read, “This is how I imagine Dolly entering heaven.”
Dolly Parton’s Passing
Dolly’s nephew, Brian Seaver, shared the devastating news of her death.
“My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly. But so have you. She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD, and on your phone’s playlist, becoming an extended part of your family whether you liked it or not,” he said.
The family later revealed that Parton died after a brief battle with cancer, and that she would be laid to rest in a small, private service for her immediate family.
